My Dinner at Moto, Part Two, November 14, 7:00 p.m.

A chowist colleague from Toronto, Renee Suen, will be in town for a conference in mid-November, and wanted to arrange a dinner at Moto for Tuesday November 14, 7:00 p.m. I know there had been some discussion about recapturing the magic from the first dinner.

We will avoid the blowout 21 course meal that we had before, but will choose the ten course tour.

On her five day visit, Renee is planning to eat at Alinea, Avenues, and Moto (plus Chinatown), and she is a cardiologist. OUR kind of cardiologist, it goes without saying. She is also a researcher, and I suggested that she might bring some of her lab mice for Homero to work his magic on, but she demurred. No white mice, at least not from her.

If you would like to join us, respond on this thread or PM. I will wait a few days, and will call Moto with a tentative number of guests. If you have major allergies, let me know that as well.

Gary,

Surprisingly, I have the date open and I have wanted to try Moto for some time. I am in for one, right now, but perhaps two. Thank you for opening this up to others. I am also open to 10/21 should the question arise.

pd

Hi,

As tempting as this may be, I do want to go back for a 21-course blow out with lots of new circuses.

Moto Restaurant
www.motorestaurant.com
945 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 491-0058

Regards,

I have asked our guest of honor her preferences as to the number of courses: 10 or 20. I will let you know.

The ten was my idea. As much I have enjoyed Homero's small courses, I am even more impressed when he works on a larger plate. But I am easily rolled. And from a PM and Cathy2's comment, perhaps another extravaganza is in the offing.

GAF wrote:On her five day visit, Renee is planning to eat at Alinea, Avenues, and Moto (plus Chinatown), and she is a cardiologist. OUR kind of cardiologist, it goes without saying. She is also a researcher, and I suggested that she might bring some of her lab mice for Homero to work his magic on, but she demurred. No white mice, at least not from her.

I fear I must confess I am but a graduate student working the cardiology field. I do, however, work along side some amazing cardiologists (and try to maintain a heart friendly lifestyle)
Knowing that, I'm not sure how welcomed I would be bringing in mice that I work with (being that they’re transgenics) that are black in coat and have cute beady eyes. I'm sure not many (including GAF and Homero) are disappointed... I hope!

Looking forward to a scrumptious meal and an incredible dining experience, oh and lest I forget to mention, great company too.

BTW, 10 or 20 courses matters not to me as long as the meal is great. However, I must confess, the prospect of doing the tour does have me giddy in glee.

Well, if we are doing the 20+ courses, then count me in! I too have been thinking of trying Moto for a while... =)

Only down side to the 20+ courses is that it's a "school night" for most of us. Even 10 courses takes more than two hours, and with a talkative crowd, I can imagine its running easily to three hours. The 20+ would probably take 4 hours or more, which would make this kind of a late night for a mid-week dinner.

Just a thought -- but for those with early mornings on Wednesday, perhaps something to take into consideration.

Cynthia,

The first MOTO dinner started at 6 PM ending around 1:30 AM. I didn't get home until after 3 AM because I drove people home.

While I understand your concerns, it is also when the staff has the more time to devote us. I would expect weekends more bustling in the kitchen and a diluted attention.

It remains one of the most memorable meals of my life for all sorts of reasons.

egards,

As you can see from "Renka"'s response, she answered as a figured she would. I realize the problem of the late night, but it seems that there is a consensus for the 20 course dinner. One tired morning does not make a poor worker. So unless there is a strong uprising, we will plan for the Full Tour.

$?

GAF,

Since you have the inquiry for cost, then why not break it down to with and without wine pairings.

Thanks!

Regards,

The cost of the GTM is $160; the wine pairings are $80.
The cost of the 10 course is $100; the wine pairings are $60.

These amounts do not include tax and tip.

We don't need to choose the pairings, but get the amount of wine that we wish in bottle service.

For Moto - 1, the pairings were superb, but that wine director has left. On the times I returned, the pairings were good, even very good.

Hi,

I am in, minus the wine pairings!

Regards,

Me too
But my pauvre student budget only allows me to partake without the wine pairings (esp with the Avenues and Alinea to also budget for).

At present we have the following signed up for the Moto II - another grand tour:

Renka (guest of honor)
Cathy2
Pdaane (possibly +1)
Crazy C
GAF

I plan to call Moto on this Tuesday to make the reservation, so if you are interested in joining us, respond. Of course, it is likely that we can add guests, Tuesday being a slow night.

Please add me to your list.
Look forward to this experience with other food lovers.

Jyoti

I have made reservations at Moto for Tuesday November 14th at 7:00 p.m.

GAF
Cathy2
Pdaane
Renka
jygach

If you want to join us, let me know.

Many sincere thanks to the staff at Moto and their inspired leader HC for making Moto-2 such a success for Renka, Jygach, Pdaane, and me. Perhaps nothing could have matched Moto-1, but on Moto-2 we were shown the kitchen and show where the GNR citation is proudly hanging - and we were equally proud to see it.

Dinner at Moto is the most fun that one can have in the city in which pictures can be posted on a family-friendly website.

Photos and comments will be available before the glow of the night fades.

Thank you, Renko, for inspiring this gathering. I hope that by the end of your visit you will learn of dining Chicago style.

Many thanks to chef HC, his staff, and the delightful company of GAF, Jygach, and Pdaane for a unique and fun filled dining experience.
I look forward to the remaining restos on my itinary, but will fondly remember this week of fine dining.
After the discussion last night regarding the dining scene in Chicago, it is certain that I will praise the city for the great dining adventures with good people that could be had.
I look forward to future dinners with my kind companions, and possibly with other LTHers.
Thank you once again GAF for putting the whole event together.

(Now I just have to learn how to post photos on the forum, and we're all set to go )